Trunk-harness and clutch.



PATBNTED AUG. 11, 1908.

- H. M. SPRAGUE.

TRUNK HARNESS AND CLUTCH.

APPLIOATION IILED JAN. 16, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No- 895,590. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908. H. M. SPRAGUE.

TRUNK HARNESS AND CLUTCH.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP AN.16, 1907.

HORACE M. SPRAGUE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

TRUNK-HARNESS AND CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Application filed January 16, 1907. Serial No. 352,657.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HoRAoE M. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Harness and Clutches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and. to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trunk harness and a clutch for use in connection therewith.

The invention will now be described in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 shows my improvement in position for use, the trunk being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken through the casing of the clutch mechanism, the device within the casing being shown partly in section. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the locking devices in a diiferent relative position. In other words in Fig. 2 these devices are in the locked position, while in Fig. 3 they are in the unlocked position. Fig. 4 is a view showing a modified form of the clutch in detail and in the locked position. Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the locking devices in the unlocked position. Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified form of locking device.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, let the numeral 5 designate a casing in which are journaled two pulleys 6 and 7. These pulleys form guides for an endless flexible device as a rope or cord adapted to pass around the trunk 8 both longitudinally and transversely. The longitudinal member of the rope may be designated 9; the transverse member, 10; the part passing around the pulley 6 and within the casing, 12, the free extremity protruding from the casing, 13; and the part passing around the pulley 7 within the casing, 14. One extremity of this rope or cord is also knotted as shown at 15, the knot being located within the casing and the rope passing out through an opening 16. The casing 5 is open at its opposite ends as shown at 17 and 18 to permit the free passage of the rope or other flexible device employed in connection therewith.

The part of the rope 12 within the casing is adapted to be engaged by the grooved eX- tremity of a locking device 19 connected with the casing by a pivoted pin 19 passing centrally through the said device. The device 19 is of such length that as its position assumes that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, it will tightly grip the rope and retain the latter in the adjusted position. The extremities of the device 19 are grooved or concave so as to form the larger or more secure contact.

The locking device or clutch is held in the locked position by an actuating device 20 consisting of a casing 21, a pin 22 slidable freely therein and a spring 23 acting on the said pin. This adjusting device is pivotally connected with the casing by a pivot 24 which passes through a slot 25 formed in the telescoping pin or piston. This slot allows the pin 22 a limited degree of reciprocating movement within the casing.

The adjusting device is so located that when thrown to the position shown in Fig. 2, it forces the pivoted locking device into clutching engagement with the parallel parts of the rope member 12 within the casing, thus positively locking the rope against reverse movement or movement in the direction of arrow A. When, however, it is desired to move the cord or rope in the opposite direction as for the purpose of tightening the rope around the trunk or other package, a pull on the extremity 13 of the rope in the direction opposite the arrow A will force the locking device against the pin 22 and move the latter into the casing 21 against the spring 23. As soon, however, as the pull on the rope extremity 13 ceases, the pin 22 actuated by its spring, will force the locking device to the locking position and prevent the reverse movement of the rope or cord.

\Vhen it is desired to release the trunk or other package from the harness, or when for any reason it is desired to allow the rope or cord to pass freely around the pulley 6 and through the casing in either direction, the pivoted adjusting device is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereby its springactuated pin 22 acts on the locking device on the opposite side of the last pivot, from the position shown in Fig. 2. In using this form of the device, it may be said that the cord or rope is first passed transversely around the trunk, the end 15 being anchored within the casing as heretofore explained. Mter the transverse wrap is formed, the free end 13 of the rope is passed into the casing through an opening 16, thence around the pulley 7 and out through the open end 18 of the casing. The rope is then passed longitudinally around the trunk or other package, and passed into the casing through the open end 17, thence past the one end of the locking device 19, thence around the pulley 6, thence past the opposite extremity of the locking device, and thence out of the open extremity 17 of the casing. The user then cinches the rope tightly around the trunk by a vigorous pull upon the free end 13. Then by throwing the adjusting device 20 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the rope will be securely locked in the adjusted position. After the adjusting device is so regulated, if there is any slack in the rope, it may be pulled more tightly around the trunk without changing the position of the adjusting device. In other words the locking device may be in the gripping position shown in Fig. 2 during the cinching of the trunk by the pull on its free extremity, since the adjusting device will yield to allow the locking device to pass from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position in the same figure, thus allowing the rope member 12 to pass freely through the caslng.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the locking mechanism is the same as in Fig. 3. In this form of construction, however, there is only one pulley, namely, the pulley 6 while the extremity of the rope opposite 13 is knotted as shown at 15, and

anchored within the tapered extremity of the casing opposite the opening 17. This form of construction is more especially adapted for use on a package to be wrapped in one direction only, while the form of construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is adapted for use where the flexible device employed is to be passed around-the package in two directions at right angles to each other (see Fig. 1).

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 6 the adjusting device or lever is designated 20 and is pivotally connected with the easing by a pin 24. This adjusting device, however, has no longitudinal movement but when thrown to the dotted line position, forces the locking device or clutch 19 into the dotted line position, whereby the member 12 of the rope is positively locked against movement in either direction. This locking device 19 is provided with a cam portion 19 which the adjusting device 20 engages when the latter is thrown to the full line position, whereby the locking device is positively disengaged from the rope thus permitting the latter to move freely in either direction. In this respect this form of the device differs slightly from that shown in the other forms of construction, since when the adjusting device 20 is thrown to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, it does not positively disengage the locking device or lever from the rope, and a pull on the extremity 13 in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 4 and 5 is necessary to disengage the locking device before the rope or cord can be moved in the opposite direction.

It is evident that my improved clutch mechanism may be employed in connection with any form of package other than a trunk.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A trunk harness or package holder, comprising a casing, a pulley mounted therein, a flexible device entering the casing and passing around the pulley, the flexible device having two parallel parts located within the casing adjacent to the pulley, a locking device pivoted in the casing between the parallel parts of the flexible device, and an adjusting device comprising a casing, a pin slidably mounted in the casing and a spring located in the casing and acting on the pin, said parts being arranged to act on the pivoted locking device, whereby the latter may be held in the gripping or released position as may be desired, one extremity of the flexible device being anchored within the casing.

2. A harness or holder for trunks or other packages comprising a casing, two pulleys located therein, an endless flexible device having one extremity anchored in the casing, the said flexible device engaging both pulleys, the flexible device adjacent to one pulley, having parallel parts within the casing, and an adjustable locking clutch mounted in the casing and interposed between the parallel parts of the flexible device, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'IIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE M. SP HAGUE.

I/Vitnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DENA NELSON. 

